Monday, October 31, 2016

An
ancient totem pole has gone missing, and its pieces are scattered
across Alaska. Restoring the seven totem tokens may be the only way to
save every shifter in the world.

Kinley Dorn, a geeky architect
with a heart of gold and a polar bear shifter, jumps at the opportunity
to help her family find the lost pieces. Their idea of “helping”
involves staying indoors to research online. Work leads Kinley to sexy
lynx shifter Ransom Averill. He coaxes her away from the safety behind
her computer and into the path of a rampaging giant. Terrifying as the
monster might be, she must brave its mountain because the owl totem is
calling to her through silent whispers.

I'm so excited readers finally get to meet Kinley. She's my favorite of the sisters. We're both geeks after all! But I also like Kinley because she's a different sort of heroine. She isn't someone with a fiery personality nor is she a kick butt kinda woman. Her strengths lie in empathy and compassion. Of course, when faced with a giant wanting to squish her, she's going to have to find some way to survive!

I have a treat for one lucky commenter today. Tell me your favorite candy, and I'll randomly pick one lucky winner at the end of the day to win some Totem swag and a surprise.

My favorite candy is a Milky Way. Or a Caramilk. Heath. Coffee Crisp. Crispy Crunch. Okay, picking one isn't easy for me. I might have to go out tomorrow and get some candies on sale!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

I know it's rare you see me on the weekend, but I had to let you know I visited one of my oldest net friends, and she interviewed me. Come meet the talented Renee Cheung as we talk about revisions and characters.

See what the reviewers are saying..."Oh wow!! This box set is impressive!!"5 stars from Christine Croke on Goodreads."This was by far the best written box set that I have had the pleasure of reading! There wasn't one story that didn't carry it's weight. I am a huge fan of Paranormal Romance and this set definitely delivered."5 stars from Allie on Goodreads.

Nestled in the shadowy thoroughfares of Salem, Bridget has created a new life for herself. Saved from the noose by the mysterious Mr. Black during the witch trials, she runs Broomstix, a thriving curse worker and hex shop. Dangerous cravings thrust her back in harm’s way as evil stalks the streets. Will the allure of the forbidden be her curse or her salvation?

Alistair is a wolf caught between desire and duty to his pack. His Alpha goes missing and evidence of arcane magic and murder come a little too close to home. A chance encounter at a Halloween party brings his beast to the forefront and one night of passion leaves him wanting much, much more.

A war is brewing in Salem between the wolves and witch kind. When more deaths are found linked to rogue wolves, the two join forces. But wild magic reigns on Samhain and the moon may just have a mind of her own…

Excerpt from Malediction by Erzabet Bishop:

Alistair spotted the gorgeous brunette across the room and,
when she approached the refreshment table, he followed. For a millisecond he’d
taken her for the scrawny woman in the red dress, but on closer inspection he
was pleased to note the differences. Same dress, but the way this woman wore
it, he was tempted to peel it from her, inch by scrumptious inch.

His pack mate had
poured a few bottles of something into the punch and, while it was entertaining
to watch some of the guests succumb to the antics of the season, he didn’t
quite feel the same about the sexy female in front of him. This woman would be
far more interesting sober, he had a hunch and his predictions usually turned
out to be spot on. The markings on her arms intrigued him and he wondered if
they covered more of her body. Like tendrils of smoke curling around her flesh,
they spiraled around her skin in an unending pattern, giving him the urge to
trace every single one and see where it led.

He should be home at Briarwood, but his duties as Beta
brought him here to make sure Jessup didn’t get too out of hand. So far the pup
had been a bit mischievous, but nothing that would make him worry. Whatever
concerns he had melted when he gazed at the beauty in front of him, his animal
taking control.

Serious gray eyes winked at him from behind an elegant lacy
black mask and he had the urge to peek beneath it to see what she was hiding.
Full lips bowed below the mask, and her mass of dark hair was wound into an
up-do that he longed to plunge his fingers into while he explored her mouth
with his.

Jesus, Alastair. Get a grip.

His wolf perked up when she’d come into view and his
instinct to bed her followed in quick succession. He shook it off with a frown.
One night stands were not his style, especially with women he didn’t know. He
had other concerns and, as soon as he made sure Jessup wasn’t going to fuck up
and intoxicate half of the wealthier citizens of Salem, he was out of here.
Duncan was still missing and he’d left Laurel in charge in his stead.

But, her eyes. Fuck. They fairly glowed with a power that
socked him in the gut as they watched him from behind the mask. When she wet
her lips and took her bottom lip between her teeth, he almost lost the battle
with himself not to let his beast take over and drag her into the nearest coat
closet.

“Are you here with someone?” He cleared his throat, aware of
the growl threading through his voice.

“No. Are you?”

“Just a couple of friends. What do you think? Want to end up
in a compromising situation with a stranger?” He grinned and, seeing Jessup
approach, steered her away from the refreshment table. Alistair wanted her to
himself, at least for a little while.

“Seven deadly sins? How about a dance? With my footwork,
that could lead towards all kinds of infractions.”

“Hmm.” He swung her into his arms and into the crowd,
relishing the sensation of his hand on her lower back. The plunging view
offered by her bodice made his body stand at attention and the wolf beneath his
skin whined with want. “So, which deadly sin could you possibly have that would
sink a guy faster than lust? That dress…”

“These shoes.”

“Oh, but those… those are not a sin. Not at all. In fact, I
could look at them all night long.”

“You could, could you?” The woman laughed, deep and sensual.
Her eyes snapped with amusement. “Then you try wearing them.”

“Maybe I will.” He wanted her, and the closer they got, the
more obvious it was going to become. He weaved her around the dance floor, her
movements matching his. Her perfume and the spicy scent of her hair were making
it hard to concentrate. At the look in her eyes, he dragged her back hard
against him, his animal wild in his blood.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

“Please.”

“Let’s get some air.”
Alistair led her out onto the balcony, the twinkle lights flickered making the
grounds outside the hotel look enchanted. He had to clear his head.

“Who are you?” Alistair brushed a strand of hair away from
her face.

“I’m just a girl who needs an escape from reality. How about
you?”

“Same here.”

“Just a girl, huh?” The mystery woman smiled.

He gathered her into his arms, letting her feel the full
force of his arousal. “I don’t know. I’m not feeling much like a girl right
now.”

“No. I didn’t think you were.” She leaned into his embrace,
her lips curving up in an inviting smile.

“What’s your name?”

“Bridget. Yours?”

“Alistair.”

“Well, Alistair. It’s nice to meet you. I have one
question.”

“What’s that?”

“How long is it going to take for you to kiss me?”

“Time me.” Alistair’s mouth covered hers hungrily and he
forced her mouth open with his thrusting tongue. She gasped, trembling within
his embrace and he pulled her deeper into the shadows, away from prying eyes.

A set of short story paranormal romances centered on All Hallow’s Eve. Be thrilled and chilled by these tales set in Salem—the ultimate city for witchy and shape-shifting fun. Each story features sexy heroes and spellbinding characters. Salem has never been so hot!

All stories are complete in themselves with a beginning, a middle and end...no cliffhangers! They are an introduction to the longer books in the companion box set, A Wicked Halloween.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

As you know, I've been trying a few new things with marketing my books. Two weeks ago, I ran an ad for a sale on my urban fantasy novel, Of Blood and Sorrow. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but I did learn from it. (Still no new reviews for the book.)

Yesterday, an ad for my newest release, Dark Dawning (Totem #1) ran in The Fussy Librarian. This was a nicely economical choice. I put the book in both the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres for $22. The Fussy Librarian was quick in responding, efficient in setting it up, and sent an email making sure the info was correct two days beforehand.

But I didn't make my money back. In fact, this ad fell far short of expectations. The book is only available on Amazon. I had 2 sales yesterday.

This book is part of a series, so that wasn't the problem. I'm starting to come to the conclusion that ads probably only work if you're putting your book free for a limited time or you're already famous.

My final ad will be in Bargain Booksy on Monday. This is the most expensive one, and it is also the release date of the second book in the Totem series. Fingers crossed!

Another new marketing venture I've been trying is newsletter swaps. What this means is that I promote an author's book in my newsletter and they promote mine in theirs. I haven't noticed any effect on sales or newsletter subscribers from previous swaps until the one I did on Monday for the MegaSale. I got a couple of sales from it, but I got over 100 new subscribers to my newsletter.

Did it help that the sale was accompanied by a giveaway with a prize of a $100 Amazon gift card? I can guarantee you it did.

When someone subscribes to my newsletter, I offer up a free ebook (The 13th Floor Complete Collection) as a thank you. I would say only 10% actually responded and took the book. They were excited to get a new read, and every one of them were polite about it. I'm hoping that if readers like The 13th Floor series, they're going to love Totem.

Do you sign up for newsletters just to get an entry in giveaways? Do you take free ebooks when they're offered to you?

Monday, October 24, 2016

I've been celebrating shifters with the release of my Totem series, and I'm not the only one who loves these supernatural heroes and heroines. Be sure to check out this monster sale of over 45 books including Dark Dawning (Totem #1).

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

I ventured into the world of book ads recently. My first one came out last week for my Of Blood and Sorrow sale. The novel is usually $2.99, and I put it on sale for 99c. It's highly rated. It has a professionally done cover. And it has vampires.

The sale was five days (12th-16th). I bought an ad with Ereader News Today (ENT) which went out on the 13th. Here's the link to that day's books. It was in the Paranormal section on the site. It cost $35.

I shouted out about the sale on all my social media, and some wonderful friends shared it too. It was easy to keep track of the sales because I've had zero sales with the book in the past two months. I did not make enough to pay the cost of the ad. Perhaps if I get some reviews, it will make it worthwhile.

Here are the numbers:
Amazon - 57
B&N - 4
Smashwords - 2
Kobo - 1

The great majority of the sales came the night of the 13th after the ad went out. Very few came after that.

Would I use ENT again? Perhaps if I had a book that was part of a series and it was free.

And yes, I do think if Of Blood and Sorrow were part of a series, it would have gotten more sales.

Next year (or the year after!) when the next two books in the trilogy come out, I will put the novel on sale again. Oh, yes! There are two more books in the works. Don't worry, Abdiel fans. He will be back!

Next week, I have an ad on the 25th with The Fussy Librarian for Dark Dawning. And a second one with Bargain Booksy on the 31st. This book is part of a series. So we'll see if that makes a difference.

Have you ever used book ads? If yes, what has your experience been like?

Monday, October 17, 2016

It’s a dark day when someone murders one of their own.Shifters
across Alaska are going missing. When up and coming interior designer
Ametta Dorn rescues the gorgeous Kodiak shifter Lucky Osberg, she comes
into the crosshairs of two relentless hunters. While Lucky sets his
sights on wooing her, the killers seek to not only capture her in her
powerful polar bear form but to also take her skin.

To prevent
her murder and the deaths of other shifters, she must work with Lucky to
track down and stop these merciless hunters. After all, their enemy’s
plan for shifter skins is something much more terrifying than
collecting mere trophies.

I'm so excited to share with everyone the world of Totem! This has been my biggest project ever. Nine books. At around 25k words per book, that's almost 200k!

I've been doing giveaways for my newsletter subscribers, but in celebration of today's release, I wanted to do one just for you. The first person to respond in the comments with their favorite type of shifter will win a surprise pack and digital copies of the first three Totem books!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.

When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she
learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the
vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one
by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save
her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop
the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate.

Reviews:

"Rains just might make me a fan of paranormal urban fantasy – as long as she's the one writing it... Plenty of humor, plenty of action, plenty of romance, and plenty of
F-bombs—Of Blood and Sorrow ends with a satisfying finish. Sure, there's
a lot of blood and sorrow leading up to it, but what do you expect?" - 5 stars from H.G. Estok

"Of Blood and Sorrow is an
interesting twist on some of paranormal's favorite characters. It
constructs an intriguing dynamic and hierarchy of demons and vampires
and is a swift-moving read that carries the reader along in its current." - 5 stars from M. Pepper Langlinais

Monday, October 10, 2016

From USA Today, Amazon bestselling and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Ghosts of Fire,
a supernatural anthology of ten thrilling tales. Meet paranormal
detectives, imprisoned dragons, dark demons, cursed jewels, and handsome
prophets. Explore shifting realms trapped in mirrors, and a disturbing
future where a president aims to rid the world of Otherkind. Ghosts of Fire is the third, long-awaited Elements story collection from the dynamic and inventive Untethered Realms group.

I'm so excited about this collection. My fellow authors in UR just keep getting better and better. I'm so lucky to included among them. If you haven't checked out the previous two anthologies - Twisted Earths and Mayhem in the Air - be sure to do so. They're only 99 cents!The final book in our Elements series will be out next year.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

This differs from story to story for me. Sometimes I am so madly in love with a story, I think it's perfect when I finish the first draft. Thankfully, I've learned to put it aside and come back to it later when I feel this way. That cures me of my endorphin goggles, and I can come back to chop it into bits.

Other times, I never feel the story is ready. I keep picking away at it, pouting and growling and eating way too many cookies. When I feel this way, I rely on my awesome critique partners.

Good critique partners will let you know when a story is ready for the world. It's their job to rein you in when you're going too fast or give you encouragement when you feel like your story isn't good enough. I'd be lost without my CPs. I might write good stories, but they help make them great.

Monday, October 3, 2016

I met the awesome Tara Tyler!
She did wonderfully on her panel about sci-fi films and books. She's one fun and smart woman.

There were tons of people dressed up and lots of Star Wars stuff. My little guy had tons of fun exploring the museum. (Yes, the convention was in the children's science museum!) Tara had a table beautifully set up. I got her to sign my copy of Broken Branch Falls. Did you know the sequel is coming out in a few months? I've been lucky enough to read Cradle Rock already. Check out my review on Goodreads!

* * *

Only two weeks until the release of Dark Dawning (Totem #1)!

If you've subscribed to my newsletters, you've been getting Totem tidbits, excerpts, and giveaways! You can subscribe right now by popping your email address into the handy little widget on the right there. I'll continue to share all these goodies through to the release of the third book in November.

Click, Read, Enjoy.

About Me

I'm a writer, blogger, and geek mom. I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I love a dark and gritty story. I have four degrees which don't help at all with motherhood, but make me a great Jeopardy player. Member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms.